The National tribune., 1887-02-24
AT FAIR OAKS.
Concerning the Nagniaccn; Charge Of the "FOr.
Torn Hope"
GEN. WALKER EXPLAINS

GEN. WALKER EXPLAINS.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: j have re-
oeived a copy of your paper containing the
letter of Mr.. Miller, formerly Adiutant OF the
6lst Pa COUGHS Division, in which that gen
tleman complains that / have not noted the
gallant behavior Of that regiment under Col.
o. III. Rippey and the 23d Pa, under Colonel.
afterward General, T. II. Neill at the battle OF
Fair Oaks
have only 10 say that il was not my task
60 write complete account Of that battle, but
only TO give so much Of the details of the fight
ing on the left and center as should serve 10
show the urgent necessity Of Summers coming
up with the Second Corps, aud the highly OPP
perfume manner of his arrival, and 10 prepare
the way for a detailed account Of the battle on
the extreme right. To this end the sharp ac-
tion fought by the 23d and 6lst Pa. was not
essential. That occurred in front OF the Nine
Mile road.
The force those regiments encountered was,
as / understand it, Hoods Brigade, with, per-
haps, some other troops from Writings Con-
fedcrate Division. Oar men were calamity
led by Gen Couch in person, in vain attempt
4 to relieve the pressure upon Gaseys DIVISION
along the Williamsburg road but they were
outnumbered oyerlapped aud driven out with
i great slaughter.
| Had been writing an account Of the battle
Of Fair Oaks, as a whole. or a history OF Couch s
! Division, l certainly should have made due
note of this episode, and paid high tribute TO
the bravery and devotion of the two regiments
! engaged. As il was, ] had only 10 deal with
! those four regiments of COUGHS Division, which,
! thrown of eccentrically TO the right and rear,
! became mingled with the troops OF the second
Corps, at the Adams and Courtney Houses, IN
/ the severe action of the late atternoon.-fRAN-
! CHS A. WALKER Boston, Mass
FROM ANOTHER OFFICER
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: My eye has
caught an antice from the pen of Adl't Miller,
6lst Pa, complaining that injustice was done
] TO his regiment by Gen. Walker in his account
of the battle of Fair Oaks. As happened TO
be around on that day will relate what
saw of the particular movement referred TO by
/ the Adjutant, thinking that il might be OF in
terest 10 the survivors of that desperate fight.
lt was about , p. m. The battle had been
! going on for an hour and half, while not less
than twO-thirds of Casey lines had fallen back.
/ Gen. Reyes, dismounted, stood in the Nine
Mile road, TO the right of Seven Pines watch
ing the course Of the battle. At this moment
Couch, at full speed, came down the same road
/ from the right, presumably TO confer with
/ Keyes, as he refined i'm on seeing his commander.
Gen. Couch, said the latter, a staff officer
of Gen. Caseys has just been TO see me, and says
! that if couple of regiments are put in az such
/ a point indicating il with his ARMAND
| fire upon the flank of the enemy, the affair will
soon he over. Yon take two regiments and
! place them in there"
Couch broke out: Gen. Reyes, they will be
annihilatedi"
Reyes replied with vehemence: Gen.
| Couch, obey my order"
Without word that officer wheeled his horse
and went back on the road flying, his staff and
Orderly following at a dead run. The first
regiment reached was Col. Neill's 23d Pa.
Col. Neil, move your regiment by flank
yonder."
Col. Rppey, also unengaged, was little far
Their down the road
Col. Rippey, follow Col. Neill's regiment"
These were COUGHS orders TO these two Colo
nels when Gen. Couch threw himself ahead of
/ the 23d, leading the way, pushing and breaking
/ a path through the brush, Neil and his regiment
close on 10 his horses heels. As the head Of
the column approached the point indicated TO
go in" Couch got ahead into "A fringe Of pines,
where he discovered, about $50 yards beyond in
/ aclearing, a heavy mass of the enemy in reserve,
a portion of them at the same time apparently
moving toward Fair Oaks Station. guess the
General thought il was about time 10 get be-
hind ri1emen instead Of being in front of them,
and so did Nell, for no sooner had Couch
whispered 10 him what was up than the 23d
was thrown forward into line of battle facing
the new foe, while Col. Rippey, who was sharp
up with his regiment, took post 10 the right
Miller is mistaken about the 62d ~ y. being
present; il was at Fair Oaks Station. There
were no other troops engaged in. the move
ment on our side. The firing began before the
regiments were fairly in line Of battle, and we
all know the result Of the unequal contest. In
less than 20 minutes both were swept away,
with frightful loss of gallant men.
Probably the reason for Gen. Walkers failure
to mention this fight in his Fair Oaks" il
/ sbat ha n.rft a ,f hn
Corps, and only gave the names of those regi
ments which were with Sumner at the Adams
House contest.-A FAIR OAKS VETERAN, Nor
walk, Conn.